5/22/2020
Short Track Super Series
Friesen Finds the Top Side at Tri-County Racetrack to Score Short Track Super Series ‘Return to Racing’ Win
Written by
Bobby Sweeney
BRASSTOWN,
NC –
The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco
made a wild return to racing at Tri-County Racetrack, with Stewart Friesen
completing a “spin and win� to grab the checkered in the Hurlock Auto and Speed
40-lap feature event while picking up the $3,000 payday.
“It was an
awesome race car,� mentioned Friesen. “Thanks to Halmar, thanks to all my
guys. There is a lot of great things going on. Halmar is delivering
food and trying to raise money to help out people in need. People Upstate
(New York) and in the Northeast hopefully get some satisfaction watching these
cars down here in the south. This is awesome.�
The event
was streamed live via Dirt Track Digest TV, kicking off a three-race swing
through the Carolinas by the STSS.
Billy Pauch
Jr., set the pace at the start of the first Modified feature in two and a half
months, with Tyler Siri and Larry Wight battling for second.
Cautions
were the name of the game early, with a lap two pileup collecting Mike Maresca,
Alan Johnson, and Danny Bouc.
A second
major pile-up on lap three was triggered by a rare mistake by Friesen, as the
Halmar No. 44 spun and collected Allison Ricci, Erick Rudolph, Tyler Dippel,
and sent Richie Pratt on his side.
“I feel
awful,� commented Friesen. “I just got in the slime in three.
I got in there and it got right out from underneath me. We tore up
some cars. I apologize for that. That was my mistake. I’ll be
helping a lot of people bang tin tomorrow morning.�
Following
another wreck and restart on lap seven, Jared Umbenhauer launched from fourth
to second, past Siri and Wight. Umbenhauer immediately pressured Pauch for the
top spot, with Pauch high and Umbenhauer low.
By lap 15,
Pauch had finally put a car-length between himself and Umbenhauer, turning
attention to a charging Friesen.
By the time
the yellow flew on lap 21 for Bouc slowing, Friesen had cracked the top five
from the tail.
On the
restart, Friesen darted by Wight and Umbenhauer to grab second, putting up a
heavy challenge on Pauch in an instant.
The pair
went to war, with Friesen clawing down low to remain side-by-side with Pauch
for laps on end.
High-side
momentum kept Pauch out front, with the incessant battle halting on lap 30 for
Alan Johnson slowing.
Wight and
Umbenhauer were having a battle of their own for third behind Pauch and
Friesen, but this battle ended with Umbenhauer heading pit-side with a flat
under the yellow.
On the 10-to-go
restart, Friesen slid under Pauch in the first set of turns to snag the lead.
With clean track, Friesen moved up to the top-side previously occupied by
Pauch, but Pauch didn’t let Friesen walk away, remaining within a couple car-lengths
in the final laps.
“He was
tough,� said Friesen. “He had the preferred line up ripping the
top. Mr. Cook (Ray Cook, speedway promoter) told us all night long that
you ‘got to get up there on the top.’ We finally got up there down in one
and two. It was an awesome race track. We were able to get off of
turn on that second to last restart.�
With two to
go, Maresca slowed with a flat tire, restacking the pack. A flawless
restart by Friesen set him up for success, leaving Pauch to fend off Wight.
After a wide-open 40 laps, it was Friesen winning the Short Track Super Series
re-opener at Tri-County Racetrack.
Wight
wrestled the second position away from Pauch Jr., as they came to line.
The Phoenix, N.Y., driver was able to make the low lane go nearly as well as
Friesen did up top.
“I could see
Billy was having some problems,� commented Wight. “I could see the flames
coming out his car. I could see he was having an ignition issue or
something. I was able to hit a couple good laps when he was he was trying
to hold on. We were able to race the line there. It was really
fun.�
New Jersey
native Pauch Jr., was disappointed with the final spot on the podium after
leading much of the race. He had some ignition issues which hurt is
efforts late in the race.
“I would say
about lap 10 the ignition box started going out,� cited Pauch. “I
couldn’t go down the straightaways at all. I just drove my butt off, for
the lack of a better word. I had to keep it wound up. That one’s
tough. I thought we had the best car. I wanted to win that one
bad.�
Johnson, who
started fourth, crossed the line fourth with Andy Bachetti coming from 25th
to fifth.
The Short
Track Super Series “Return to Racing� is presented by Hurlock Auto & Speed
Supply, Mike’s Racing Heads, Competition Carburetion, St. Lawrence Radiology,
Evergreen Fuels Inc., K&B Auto, The Scumgang, Midstate Recycling, Manmiller
Electric and a host of special award, bonus and purse booster contributors.
Racing
continues at Tri-County Racetrack on Friday night at 7 p.m., before the series
moves to Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C., on Saturday. All events are
available for viewing exclusively on Dirt Track Digest TV.
To
learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com,
check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on
Twitter or Instagram.
The Short
Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel,
Insinger Performance, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, /Velocita-USA,
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central, Evergreen Fuels Inc., ATL Racing Fuel
Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing
Products, Dirt Track Digest, EIBACH Springs, Fast Axle, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig
Fab, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Land Hoe Maintenance, K&N, MJK
Home Maintenance, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, QA1, Racing Optics, Superior
Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO, Velocita, WELD Racing & Wilwood.
HURLOCK AUTO & SPEED RACE SUMMARY
– TRI-COUNTY RACETRACK THURSDAY, MAY 21
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track
Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (40 laps): STEWART
FRIESEN, Larry Wight, Billy Pauch Jr., Danny Johnson, Andy Bachetti, Billy Decker,
Tyler Siri, Alex Yankowski, Danny Creeden, Danny Tyler, Brett Tonkin, Jared
Umbenhauer, J.R. Hurlburt, Michael Maresca, Alan Johnson, Allison Ricci, Danny
Bouc, David Schilling, Anthony Perrego, Dillon Groover, Jeff Strunk, Richie
Pratt Jr, Billy Van Pelt, Tyler Dippel, Erick Rudolph, H.J. Bunting, Matt Sheppard,
Peter Britten
Did Not Start: Jessica
Friesen, Jeremy Smith, Josh Delea.
Fan Bonus Money ($100 Each): Brett Tonkin
(11th), Alan Johnson (15th), Danny Bouc (17th),
Dillon Groover (20th) & Peter Britten (28th)
Bill Brown & Company Heat Hard Charger ($50): Billy Decker (8th to 4th) Competition Carburetor Fastest Feature Lap ($50): Stewart Friesen (13.051 seconds) Heat No. 1 Winner/Linda’s Speedway ($50): Jared Umbenhauer Heat No. 2 Winner/Insinger Performance ($50): Danny Creeden Heat No. 3 Winner/Accord Speedway ($50): Allison Ricci Heat No. 4 Winner/Lias Tire Company ($50): Billy Pauch Jr. KB’S Racing Photos Halfway Leader ($50): Billy Pauch Jr. Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Halfway Leader ($200): Billy Pauch Jr. On-Track Automotive Ironman ($150): J.R. Hurlburt (13th) Pigskin Pros Most Vehicles Passed ($150):  Andy Bachetti (25th to 5th) Scumgang Hot Lap Hero ($100): Stewart Friesen (12.716 seconds) Summer's Best Ice Cream Last Car On Lead Lap ($100): J.R. Hurlburt (13th)
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